Welcome back to the latest edition of our Reliever Ranks series! This will bring you up-to-date bullpen depth charts every morning for the day’s games and makes for an excellent tool for those looking to stream saves or wins. This series runs seven days a week, so check in every morning to get your daily bullpen fix!
Notes
Transaction and Schedule Notes
- All 30 MLB teams played last night with one extra innings contest (CIN vs. BAL) and seven successfully converted saves.
- The Braves, Mariners, Nationals, Orioles, Reds and Twins are off on Thursday.
- The Yankees activated right-hander Ian Hamilton from the 15-day IL on Wednesday. Hamilton owns a 1.23 ERA in 16 appearances this season, and he should factor his way right back in to their middle-innings mix.
- The Brewers optioned Peter Strzelecki to Triple-A, recalling LHP Thomas Pannone in his place. Strzelecki led the team with 14 holds, but it looks like Joel Payamps (who picked up his 13th hold on Wednesday) is now Milwaukee’s top setup man.
Yesterday’s Performances
MIN 0 – ATL 3
SV: Raisel Iglesias (13)
HD: A.J. Minter (8), Joe Jiménez (6)
- Minnesota trailed from the start in this one, but they did get two solid innings in relief out of Jovani Moran (3 K, 1 BB, 0 H). If only those pitchers could hit, too…
- Kolby Allard (4.2 IP, 8 K) turned back the clock in this spot start, giving the Atlanta staff a boost that the bullpen had little trouble capitalizing on. Kirby Yates was impressive again, striking out three and picking up the win in his fourth consecutive scoreless outing. Between Yates, Minter, Jiménez and Iglesias, the Braves allowed just one baserunner from the sixth inning onward.
MIL 5 – NYM 2
SV: Devin Williams (15)
HD: Hoby Milner (7), Elvis Peguero (7), Joel Payamps (13)
- Bryse Wilson (3-0) earned the win in this game with 1.2 scoreless innings, lowering his season ERA to an impressive 2.56. He was followed by Milner, Peguero and Payamps, each of whom was able to keep the Mets off the board easily enough. Williams was typically impressive in the ninth for his 15th save.
- Adam Ottavino had a rough time of it in the eighth, allowing two runs on two hits, a walk, and a controversial hit-by-pitch that resulted in Buck Showalter getting ejected. Ottavino is one of the better relievers in the NL, but he has allowed five walks in three appearances this week, which is concerning.
HOU 10 – STL 7
SV: Ryan Pressly (15)
HD: Andre Pallante (8), Chris Stratton (2), Bryan Abreu (12)
- The Astros came back with five runs in the eighth, and Seth Martinez (2-3) was the beneficiary in the win column. Upon taking the lead, they handed the ball to Abreu and Pressly, who combined to strike out four and allow zero baserunners to close it out. This was Pressly’s fifth straight outing without allowing an earned run, lowering his ERA to a cozy 2.88.
- On the other side of that equation was Giovanny Gallegos, who suffered another blowup, allowing all five of those earned runs in the eighth to take the loss and a blown save. He allowed as many home runs (two) as outs recorded. I wasn’t expecting to say the words “Jordan Hicks is carrying the Cardinals bullpen” in 2023, but here we are.
LAD 8 – COL 9
SV: Justin Lawrence (5)
HD: Pierce Johnson (2), Daniel Bard (3)
- The Dodgers looked like they were in control after a six-run fourth, but a particularly poor outing from Victor González (three ERs) and Nick Robertson (two ERs) proved to be their undoing. The Dodger bullpen is messy right now, but you have to take anything that happens in Colorado with a grain of salt.
- Daniel Bard nearly gave the game right back in the eighth, as the Dodgers chased him with two on, two out, and one run in. Johnson entered the game and promptly let another run in, but he was able to strike out J.D. Martinez with the bases loaded to end the threat. Johnson had a much easier time in the ninth, punching out two more en route to his fifth save. He lowered his season ERA to 2.93, which is equivalent to something like 1.60 in a city at normal elevation. Not bad!
NYY 11 – OAK 0
- No bullpen work to speak of here. Congratulations, Domingo Germán!
Best of the Rest
- Hunter Harvey earned save no. six in Washington’s 4-1 win over the Mariners, shutting the door after Patrick Corbin’s dominant outing (yes, you read that right). Harvey has thrown 4.1 scoreless innings in the last week and earned three saves, as he continues to establish himself as the Nats’ best reliever.
- Nick Martinez was tagged for multiple runs (five, to be exact) for the third time in his last three appearances as the Padres fell to the Pirates. If anyone was still holding on to Martinez for holds, the time to drop has come.
- Hayden Wesneski performed admirably over 4.1 innings in relief against the Phillies after Drew Smyly was rocked early. The returns are early, but Wesneski has certainly looked better in long relief than he did as a starter for the Cubs this year.
- Both Félix Bautista and Alexis Díaz pitched well in non-save situations during the 10-inning battle in Baltimore, with Díaz (3-1) ultimately earning the win after his perfect ninth. Daniel Duarte (2), Lucas Sims (13), and Ian Gibaut (8) earned holds earlier in the game for the Reds.
- A.J. Puk (12) picked up a quick two-out save in Miami’s 6-2 win over the Red Sox, coming in after Dylan Floro ran into trouble. Huascar Brazoban (10) and Andrew Nardi (7) added holds.
- The Rays used a little more of their magic to punish Scott McGough and the D-Backs in the ninth inning, scoring three runs at the death. Pete Fairbanks was ready for the Johnny-on-the-spot save shortly after.
Bullpen Depth Charts
The Hold Up: Ranking the Top 100 Relievers for Holds Every Thursday